• ontherunwayatHaroldWashingtonLibraryforTheSecretGarden
    On the runway at Harold Washington Library for The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ontherunwayatTheSecretGarden
    On the runway at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • clothingdesignedbyQueeraontherunwayatTheSecretGarden
    Clothing designed by Queera on the runway at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • designsbyCalvinTranatTheSecretGarden
    Designs by Calvin Tran at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • atthestartofTheSecretGarden
    The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • atTheSecretGarden
    At The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ChicagoHouseCEOMichaelHermanatTheSecretGarden
    Chicago House CEO Michael Herman at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • enjoyingTheSecretGarden
    Enjoying The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • friendsenjoyingTheSecretGarden
    Friends enjoying The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • NabeelaRasheedandfriendatTheSecretGarden
    Nabeela Rasheed and friend at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • nearthecloseofTheSecretGarden
    At The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • presentingatTheSecretGarden
    Presenting at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • sproutsatTheSecretGarden
    Sprouts at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • theballroomatTheSecretGarden
    Ballroom at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • volunteersatTheSecretGarden
    Volunteers at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
  • enjoyingtheflowershowbeforebrunch
    Enjoying the flower show before brunch. Photo by Vern Hester
  • enjoyingtheflowershow
    Enjoying the flower show. Photo by Vern Hester
  • enjoyingtheopenbarbeforetheshow
    Enjoying the open bar before the show. Photo by Vern Hester
  • themaincourseatTheSecretGarden
    The main course at The Secret Garden. Photo by Vern Hester
On May 7, Chicago House presented its annual spring fashion brunch, this year titled The Secret Garden, in the Winter Green Ballroom of the Harold Washington Library.

The annual event, which some now regard as the start of gay summer in Chicago, featured a sit-down brunch, flower show, live auction, fashion show and live performances, among them Molly Callinan, Dance Crash and the Actor’s Gymnasium.

DJ Brian X provided a soundtrack of vintage disco, with proceeds in excess of $300,000 earmarked for Chicago House. WGN news personality Sean Lewis served as emcee for the event.

Chicago House was founded in 1985 at the height of the AIDS epidemic and initially served as a housing resource, and in most cases a hospice, for those living with HIV, according to its website. As the trajectory of HIV treatment shifted, Chicago House’s services evolved as well; the organization now assists those living with HIV to lead healthy lives.

Chicago House serves more than 2,000 individuals in Chicago across four mission-critical pillars of housing, health, employment support and the TransLife Care program. For more information on the organization, to volunteer, or to donate go to http://www.chicagohouse.org.